How an Online Ad Inspired 2 Factory Workers to Build a Rs 1 Cr Pearl Farming Business

By Admin

31 Jul, 2025

Inspiration can strike when you least expect it. For Salinder Kumar and Rajesh Goswami, two factory workers from Haryana, it came in the form of an online advertisement one that would eventually turn their lives around and lead them to build a Rs 1 crore pearl farming empire, known today as Jai Shri Pearl Farming.

A Click That Changed Everything

On an ordinary day in 2013, while working in a textile factory in Haryana, Rajesh Goswami came across an ad about pearl farming training conducted by the Central Institute of Freshwater Aquaculture (CIFA) in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. He shared the ad with his colleague and friend, Salinder Kumar, and although puzzled at first, the idea ignited a spark.

“We were tired of just surviving on our factory jobs. The ad gave us hope that we could be more than just workers,” says Salinder.

They enrolled in the CIFA’s two-day training program, where they learned the fundamentals of freshwater pearl cultivation   from managing water conditions to understanding the science of mussel breeding.

Planting the Seeds of an Unlikely Dream

Before pearl farming, the two had considered poultry, a more familiar path. However, the intense competition in poultry farming discouraged them. Pearl farming, though unfamiliar, offered niche potential and relatively low competition   making it a perfect opportunity to try something different.

Returning home from Odisha, the duo set up their first pearl farm right in Salinder’s backyard. With an investment of Rs 3.5 lakh, they built six 10x10 ft cement tanks and sourced premium golden brown mussels from Odisha’s coastal areas. Despite their demanding factory jobs, they dedicated every free moment to their side hustle   monitoring water quality, nurturing mussels, and patiently waiting for the magic to happen.

Side Hustle to Full-Time Venture

Over the next year, Salinder and Rajesh carefully balanced work and business. Encouraged by early success   with 70% of their mussels yielding high-quality pearls   they eventually took the bold step of leaving their factory jobs.

“Anyone can start pearl farming as a side business. It doesn’t require heavy physical labour or massive land. What it needs is patience and learning,” shares Salinder.

Their small backyard operation soon evolved into a large-scale enterprise. They expanded across India, setting up farms with over one lakh mussels in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Daman. Today, Jai Shri Pearl Farming generates an annual turnover of Rs 1 crore, with customers spread across India and internationally   from the US to Canada and Australia.

Creating Ripples of Impact

Salinder and Rajesh didn’t stop at personal success. They began training others over 200 individuals so far   to build their own pearl farming businesses. One such trainee, Santosh Kumar from Ambala, started his own farm in 2022 after attending their Rs 6,000 training. Using his ancestral land, he now operates 17 tanks and earned Rs 2.5 lakh in just over a year.

“Pearl farming is not just a business, it’s a movement. It’s changing rural lives,” says Santosh, who continues to balance his private job while running the farm with marketing support from Salinder.

A Life Reimagined

The transformation in Salinder and Rajesh’s lives is nothing short of remarkable. From modest means, Salinder now lives in a spacious 9,000 sq ft home, drives a car, and has sent his children abroad for education. The two also built their own office to manage operations more professionally.

Reflecting on his journey, Salinder encourages young Indians to explore modern farming innovations. “With technology, hard work, and a willingness to learn, anything is possible. Farming is no longer just traditional it’s the future,” he says.

Final Thoughts

A single online ad lit the path for two factory workers to leave the grind behind and create a thriving pearl farming business. Their story is a testament to courage, resilience, and the power of taking a chance on something new.

For anyone dreaming of a better life, Jai Shri Pearl Farming is proof that success can start with a spark   and grow into something truly priceless.